Harrogate bar owner says move to Tier two is 'catastrophic' and 'unfair' to licensed trade

Can Harrogate bars reopen next week in Tier 2, the answer is it's a mixed picture

Robert Thompson, who owns the SO! bars in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon, the Devonshire Tap House in Harrogate, Tap On Tower Street in Harrogate, The Groves in Knaresborough and The Hart in Knaresborough said he would now be mothballing some of his bars while others would be reopening but with reduced hours.

While supporting staying safe against the virus, he said he did not understand why an industry which had already gone to such great efforts to stop the spread of the Covid pandemic had been singled out for stricter measures than other business sectors.

Mr Thompson said: "The move to tier two is going to be catastrophic for a lot of licence business.

"I believe a lot were trading on the benefits from Eat Out, Grants from the first lockdown and hoping to get just get to December and then the business over Christmas will see them through to spring and hopefully a new start.

"The tiers from 2 onwards just wipe out all that hope for a lot. and its again another change in direction and planning we all have to cope with.

Mr Thompson added: "Of course I support what's needed to keep people safe and have from day one gone that extra mile to do this in my venues, but with the new tiers, its increasingly seeming like there is little sense to it.

"Next week you can sit quietly in a cafe and have a coffee, but you cannot sit with a paper and a pint in your local.

"You can sit and have your haircut, legs waxed, but not enjoy a couple of G&T's with your partner after work before going home for tea?

Mr Thompson continued: "The majority of pubs have done all they have been asked to do, improves hygiene, sanitiser stations, PPE for staff, one way systems, perspex screens.

"They now offer extremely controlled environments where the public is kept in line and told what to do and follows it.

"You then walk around to a supermarket and all the systems are gone and you have to wonder why we have been signalled out in such a way.

"The hospitality industry employs 10% of the UK's workforce, surely we deserve a little more respect?

Mr Thompson added: "I have two sites that are 100% wet led and will now be mothballed until the Government open us up again.

"I have two sites that do a little food and I have shut one and going to take a gamble on the other one.

"I will be opening the three SO! bars, but on reduced hours, not opening for lunch as I expect the only household rule to reduce turnover to 40% to 50% of pre covid levels.

"However, due to the tier restrictions we will have to have more staff on to meet our obligations; it's a double whammy of reduced sales and higher costs.

Mr Thompson continued:"We have 65 staff and will stand by their jobs and help, however we can, through this period.

"They are an amazing bunch and have had to deal with multiple changes in offer and policies almost weekly since March.

Mr Thompson concluded: "To survive this new barrier to trade, I feel licensed venues are going to have to get even more creative, finding more and more ways to make a living outside of their normal trading as shops, through e-commerce, takeaway etc."

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